WorkSafe has issued a safety alert to remind climbing centre employers of the risks associated with climbing equipment and of the need to maintain safety standards during busy times such as school holidays.
Despite added demands on staff and resources it is important for climbing centre employers to ensure that they are not compromising on safety. This reminder arises in the wake of an incident where an 11-year-old boy was injured in a fall from an artificial climbing structure (see previous article).
The boy thought that he had been connected to an automatic belay system. An auto belay is a safety device that controls a climber’s descent to a safe speed. A failure in the pre-climb process meant that the boy was not attached, so when he jumped, instead of descending slowly he fell directly to the floor, landing where other children had been playing just seconds earlier. The boy was taken to hospital and later diagnosed with a fractured sternum and soft tissue injuries to his back.
WorkSafe has highlighted some of the safety issues that are associated with climbing centres, including –
- Poor or infrequent maintenance of safety equipment such as auto belays and harnesses.
- The ages and abilities of climbers can vary greatly.
- Conditions can vary. For example, school holidays can lead to climbing centres being busier than usual. The increased demand on employees might lead to risks associated with supervision.
- Lack of supervision has led to users failing to follow the rules for safe use of climbing structures. This includes failing to connect the harness to the auto belay before starting to climb.
WorkSafe’s safety alert includes comprehensive information and instructions for employers to ensure that they are adequately controlling risks from auto belays, harnesses and other equipment. Suggestions cover –
- Controls
- Information, instruction, training and supervision for employees
- Supervision of climbers
- Inspection of climbers
- Inspection of structures and safety equipment
- Maintenance of structures and safety equipment
- What to include in an inspection and maintenance program
- An example of an Inspection schedule
- Legal duties of employers
- Plus, related information and a link to WorkSafe’s artificial climbing structures page
Read more: School holiday reminder for climbing centres | WorkSafe Victoria